Over the Edge

The six-and-a-half foot tall man weighing a whopping two-hundred-ninety pounds almost completely filled the frame of any doorway. He prided himself on keeping in shape and made frequent trips to the gym lifting weights and toning his muscles. He took great satisfaction in being thorough in all aspects of his life. Even though a little mechanical at times due to what would be deemed as repetition, it made him outstanding in what could be called an unauthorized profession. It surprised people that he had the uncanny ability to move both quickly and quietly like a cat hunting its prey during the essential elements of his solicited and highly paid professional jobs. Detailed organization and extreme caution were necessary skills achieved by many years of working experience.

An acquired fake sign had been attached to the side of an older, dark, nondescript van for this particular night. The sign read, Plumbing Repairs Made EZ. He wore faded, stained jeans and a grubby, navy blue shirt with the same logo on a pocket. A metal container was carried suggesting he had tools of the trade in hand. Everything about the man fit the perfect role of a practicing plumber, and he was ready to accomplish his goal.

Observation of the hospital entrance for fifteen minutes made him satisfied that visitors would not be a problem. He lowered the brim of his cap and cautiously entered Mercy Hospital. The target and location had been cased earlier, and every detail committed to memory. The plan was perfect, and there was no doubt in his mind that he would succeed.

A sizeable waiting room was directly to the left and the registration desk was off to one side. The gift store to the immediate right was closed, and next to it was a hollowed out space with water flowing over various sized, artificial rocks giving the effect of a miniature, natural waterfall. Greenery of various shapes and sizes was strategically placed around the waterfall to create a subdued and eye-catching scene. His path lay straight ahead down the long, carpeted hall that would take him to the stairs.

The individual on the registration desk kept her head down and didn’t hear him as he quietly continued down the hallway to the stairs unobserved by anyone. The plumber glanced from side to side and gently turned the knob. The door opened allowing him to step into the empty stairwell. He left his metal tool case in the corner and climbed the stairs to the fourth floor. With utmost caution and an ear tuned in for the slightest of noise, he slowly opened the door inch by inch and peeked inside. The corridor was empty and the nurses’ station was too far away to hear his catlike footsteps as he steadily crept closer to room 412. He stopped and glanced down the hall to make sure no one was in sight before he entered. The intruder looked around the room and saw a pillow in the corner chair. It was just what he needed, and he silently crossed the room to pick it up. Very cautiously, the big man retreated to the side of Cari’s bed. Just before lowering his choice of weapon, he thought, it’s a shame to kill such a beautiful young woman. But a job’s a job and means a great deal of money in my pocket.

The pill had started to take effect. Cari shut her eyes and allowed her weary body to welcome the feeling of a calm and blissful dreamland when she heard a sound, long and loud.

With a booming, piercing voice, Michael yelled, “Cari! Wake up,” and even with more emphasis shouted, “NOW!”

She forced her sleepy eyes to open and instantly screamed when she saw a man or was it a monster looming over her with a pillow in his hands who was about to cover her face with it. “Next time, you might not be so lucky,” he threatened and left in an extremely quick fashion.

The nurse pushed her chair back and pulsed herself away from the computer just as the telephone rang. “Donna, please get the phone,” and she stood up, rounded the nurses station, and headed down the hallway. She entered the room, glanced around, went to Cari’s bedside, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Cari was shaking and sobbing. “A man just tried to kill me. He had a pillow and was going to smoother me.”

The nurse glanced around the room and looked over her glasses at the patient making eye-to-eye contact. “I don’t see anyone in your room. Are you sure you really saw someone?

The nurse ignored Cari’s angry glare to the obvious I don’t believe you attitude. I think you must have had a bad dream because I didn’t see anyone in the hall when I came down to your room.” The nurse paused long enough to accentuate her point before continuing. “I would have if someone had been here.”

“Look in my bathroom and look in the hall again,” Cari demanded. “He was here.”

“All right! Just calm down. I’ll go check.” The nurse looked in the bathroom and down the hall, returned, and with a smug look on her face, reported there wasn’t anyone in sight anywhere.

Cari’s frustration was mounting, and she stated with conviction, “I tell you, a man was here, and he tried to kill me. He was big, really big,” and she stressed the really big part. “I can’t understand why you didn’t see him. It was just a few minutes before you entered my room.”

The nurse shook her head and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said before, there wasn’t anyone anywhere.